verbA2
Preteritum perfektum (førfortid)
[Past Perfect / Pluperfect (Preteritum perfektum)]The past perfect / pluperfect (hadde + participle) expresses an action that took place BEFORE another past event. Learn how to combine pluperfect with preterite, employ time subjunctions like 'da' and 'etter at', and distinguish simultaneous events from sequential ones.
1. Formation: Auxiliary 'hadde' + Past Participle
The past perfect is structured identically to the present perfect, with the auxiliary verb shifted to the preterite 'hadde':
Verb Class
Gruppe 1 (-et)(Group 1 (-et))
Stem Characteristic
2 konsonanter foran -e(2 consonants before -e)
Present Perfect (now)
har danset / har vasket(has danced / has washed)
Past Perfect (pluperfect)
hadde danset / hadde vasket(had danced / had washed)
Verb Class
Gruppe 2 (-t)(Group 2 (-t))
Stem Characteristic
1 konsonant foran -e(1 consonant before -e)
Present Perfect (now)
har reist / har brukt(has traveled / has used)
Past Perfect (pluperfect)
hadde reist / hadde brukt(had traveled / had used)
Verb Class
Gruppe 3 (-d)(Group 3 (-d))
Stem Characteristic
Stamme på -v, -g, diftong(Stem in -v, -g, diphthong)
Present Perfect (now)
har levd / har lagd (laget)(has lived / has made)
Past Perfect (pluperfect)
hadde levd / hadde lagd (laget)(had lived / had made)
Verb Class
Gruppe 4 (-dd)(Group 4 (-dd))
Stem Characteristic
Kort verb på vokal(Short verb ending in vowel)
Present Perfect (now)
har bodd / har sydd(has lived / has sewn)
Past Perfect (pluperfect)
hadde bodd / hadde sydd(had lived / had sewn)
Verb Class
Sterke verb(Strong verbs)
Stem Characteristic
Uregelrett partisipp(Irregular participle)
Present Perfect (now)
har fått / har gått / har tatt(has gotten / has walked / has taken)
Past Perfect (pluperfect)
hadde fått / hadde gått / hadde tatt(had gotten / had walked)
| Verb Class | Stem Characteristic | Present Perfect (now) | Past Perfect (pluperfect) |
|---|---|---|---|
Gruppe 1 (-et)Group 1 (-et) | 2 konsonanter foran -e2 consonants before -e | har danset / har vaskethas danced / has washed | hadde danset / hadde vaskethad danced / had washed |
Gruppe 2 (-t)Group 2 (-t) | 1 konsonant foran -e1 consonant before -e | har reist / har brukthas traveled / has used | hadde reist / hadde brukthad traveled / had used |
Gruppe 3 (-d)Group 3 (-d) | Stamme på -v, -g, diftongStem in -v, -g, diphthong | har levd / har lagd (laget)has lived / has made | hadde levd / hadde lagd (laget)had lived / had made |
Gruppe 4 (-dd)Group 4 (-dd) | Kort verb på vokalShort verb ending in vowel | har bodd / har syddhas lived / has sewn | hadde bodd / hadde syddhad lived / had sewn |
Sterke verbStrong verbs | Uregelrett partisippIrregular participle | har fått / har gått / har tatthas gotten / has walked / has taken | hadde fått / hadde gått / hadde tatthad gotten / had walked |
2. Past Chronology: Action (1) Occurred BEFORE Action (2)
When narrating two events in the past, the action that took place earlier is in the past perfect, while the subsequent action takes simple preterite:
Examples:
Jeg hadde glemt (1. førfortid) navnet hans da vi avsluttet (2. fortid) møtet.I had forgotten (1) his name when we finished (2) the meeting.
Han hadde allerede laget (1. førfortid) mat da hun kom (2. fortid) hjem fra jobben.He had already cooked (1) food when she arrived (2) home from work.
Jeg hadde allerede studert (1. førfortid) norsk i to år da jeg flyttet (2. fortid) til Norge.I had already studied (1) Norwegian for two years when I moved (2) to Norway.
3. Time Subjunctions ('da', 'etter at') and Simultaneity vs. Sequence
These clauses are linked by subjunctions like 'da' or 'etter at'. Pay close attention to the distinction between simultaneous and sequential events:
A. Using 'da' and 'etter at' before Pluperfect:
Da jeg hadde vært på kino, møtte jeg plutselig Ida på gata.When I had been to the cinema, I suddenly bumped into Ida on the street.
Jeg møtte plutselig Ida etter at jeg hadde vært på kino.I suddenly met Ida after I had been to the cinema.
B. Simultaneity (Preterite + Preterite) vs. Sequence (Pluperfect):
Samtidig handling: Jeg spiste middag og så på TV. (gjorde begge deler parallelt)Simultaneous: I ate dinner and watched TV. (did both in parallel)
Sekvens / Førfortid: Etter at jeg hadde spist middag, så jeg på TV. (først spiste jeg ferdig, så så jeg på TV)Sequential: After I had eaten dinner, I watched TV. (finished dinner first, then watched TV)
Remember the V2 rule when the dependent clause comes first: 'Da jeg hadde spist middag, SÅ (verb in position 2) jeg på TV.'